Northwest Florida Business Climate April 2014

April 2014

Greater Pensacola Chamber Faces Big Decisions SkillsUSA Develops the Economy and Future Workforce Building a Career in Construction Impact 100 Makes History

from the

publisher’ s pen Malcolm Ballinger Publisher

What word do you think of when you think of Pensacola? Historical? Mid-size?

Eclectic? For me, the word is progress. As a city collective of business individuals, forward thinkers, up and coming leaders and novel ideas, Pensacola is forever progressing forward toward a brighter future. We have made so much progress in the last couple of years, sometimes smooth and subtle, sometimes fast and jolting. The result is always the same though: a better city with a more competent workforce and a more beautiful place to call home.

We business owners are not the only ones making progress, though. High school and college students are progressing everyday toward a successful career in exciting fields, often in ways I never could have imagined when I was their age. Pensacola State College hosts the annual Skills USA competition, which brings together vocational and trade students from all over the state to compete in their fields, and often get noticed and hired by big-name companies near and far. Learn more on page 8.

Landmark sites in our fair city are also making progress, thanks to the innovative ideas of their owners. The REX Theatre is a great example. It has a storied past and an exciting future, thanks to a handful of willing and able community developers. Plans are in the works to transform this iconic location which has known both fame and dilapidation into the next jewel in downtown's crown. Find out what the plans are on page 22.

Speaking of buildings, you may not realize it very often, but this country is literally and figuratively built by the construction industry. These construction professionals do more than just dig holes, lay asphalt and mortar bricks. They have vast inventories of knowledge ranging from business, finance and logistics, to environmental awareness and technology. Discover the ins and outs of this fascinating industry on page 12.

Much of this progress would not be possible without philanthropic organizations and individuals. Impact 100, the group of women who have donated millions of dollars to non-profits in need for years, recently experienced a historic spike in membership and can now boast that Pensacola is the largest chapter in the world. Get the scoop on page 14.

Finally, progress cannot always be made without some tough decisions. The Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce has experienced its fair share of tough decisions recently, yet continues to shine as an example of what makes Pensacola great. Well now, new President and CEO Jerry Maygarden faces another decision, one that will impact the Chamber and regional economic development for a long time to come. Business Climate sat down with Maygarden to discover the advantages and controversies of propelling the Chamber forward. Find out more on page 19.

Reader’s Services Subscriptions If you have questions about your subscriptions, call Guy Stevens at (850) 433-1166 ext. 30 or email info@ballingerpublishing.com.

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19.

Features 19. Greater Pensacola Chamber Faces Big Decisions 22. The REX Theatre: A North Palafox Icon Gets Reborn

22.

Departments 8. EDUCATION SkillsUSA Develops the Economy and Future Workforce

8.

12. INDUSTRY Building a Career in Construction

14. PHILANTHROPY Impact 100 Makes History

12. in every issue 28. AROUND THE REGION 29. PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Cover photo by Guy Stevens II 6

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April 2014

> Inside this issue

April 2014 PUBLISHER

MALCOLM BALLINGER malcolm@ballingerpublishing.com BC EDITOR

KELLY ODEN kelly@ballingerpublishing.com ART DIRECTOR

RITA LAYMON rita@ballingerpublishing.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER & ADVERTISING COORDINATOR

GUY STEVENS II guy@ballingerpublishing.com EDITOR

EMILY LULLO emily@ballingerpublishing.com BUSINESS EDITOR

JOSH NEWBY josh@ballingerpublishing.com EDITORIAL INTERNS

JEANESSA GANTT LARSEN LIEN SALES & MARKETING

SHARYON MILLER, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE EXT. 28 sharyon@ballingerpublishing.com BECKY HILDEBRAND, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, EXT. 31 becky@ballingerpublishing.com

OWNERS

MALCOLM & GLENYS BALLINGER PUBLISHER

MALCOLM BALLINGER • malcolm@ballingerpublishing.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR

KELLY ODEN •kelly@ballingerpublishing.com ART DIRECTOR

RITA LAYMON • rita@ballingerpublishing.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER & ADVERTISING COORDINATOR

GUY STEVENS II • guy@ballingerpublishing.com EDITOR

EMILY LULLO •emily@ballingerpublishing.com BUSINESS EDITOR

JOSH NEWBY •josh@ballingerpublishing.com SALES & MARKETING SHARYON MILLER, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE EXT. 28 sharyon@ballingerpublishing.com

BECKY HILDEBRAND, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, becky@ballingerpublishing.com

EXT.

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SIMONE SANDS, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE EXT. 21 simone@ballingerpublishing.com WEBSITE:

WWW.BALLINGERPUBLISHING.COM

EDITORIAL OFFICES 41 NORTH JEFFERSON STREET, SUITE 402 PENSACOLA, FLORIDA 32502 850-433-1166 • FAX 850-435-9174

PUBLISHED BY BALLINGER PUBLISHING:

Member of:

NW Florida’s Business Climate Magazine and Pensacola Magazine is locally owned and operated. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or use of the contents herein is prohibited without written permission from the publisher. Comments and opinions expressed in this magazine represent the personal views of the individuals to whom they are attributed and/or the person identified as the author of the article, and they are not necessarily those of the publisher. This magazine accepts no responsibility for these opinions. The publisher reserves the right to edit all manuscripts. All advertising information is the responsibility of the individual advertiser. Appearance in this magazine does not necessarily reflect endorsement of any products or services by Ballinger Publishing. © 2014

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>EDUCATION

SkillsUSA Develops the Economy and Future Workforce

By Josh Newby

A skilled workforce is among the most important attributes of a strong and profitable economy, and a young, skilled workforce is necessary to ensuring its longevity. However, the average age of the American skilled laborer is 55. This is a problem that career academies, job fairs and vocational schools the world over are striving to solve. Add to this dilemma the fact that many young and aspiring electricians, welders and plumbers are not taught soft skills such as communication, professionalism and leadership, and you have an issue that requires a unique solution.

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Many local individuals and the County Commission, which granted $100,000 for venue rental, were valuable in bringing the event to our region.

Held in conjunction to the SkillsUSA conference and competition is the Worlds of Possibilities Career Expo, which will showcase businesses and vendors in technical and vocational career fields. These vendors will engage more than 1,500 middle school students from Escambia County and 2,500 high school students from Santa Rosa County, and more than 2,000 high school and college students from throughout Florida, with exciting hands-on and interactive experiences in 11 worlds and industry sectors, ranging from the World of Energy to the World of Manufacturing, which is new this year. Many of these businesses come looking to hire young, ambitious students new to the workforce.

Enter SkillsUSA, a national partnership with regional chapters of students, teachers and industry leaders working together to ensure America has a workforce skilled in not only high-wage trades such as construction, cosmetics and automotives, but also in interpersonal and organizational traits necessary to good business practices.

“These students are proficient in their trade and have a passion for a career,” said Jennifer Ponson, who is responsible for coordinating the event. “Parents need to know that you don’t necessarily need a four-year college degree to be successful. Young adults can get a certificate in a particular trade, find a job and be very successful.”

“We have several companies coming who are willing to hire a number of people,” said Ponson. “These competitions will be occurring inside and outside, featuring students at the top of their game competing for top prizes. And while that is happening, industry leaders will be milling about, observing and taking notes on employment possibilities. We’ve brought both sides of workforce development together.”

“SkillsUSA is a high school and college level club that not only develops vocational and technical skills, but also the holistic and soft skills of the workforce as a whole,” said Ed Meadows, Pensacola State College (PSC) president. “All industries look for the best craftsmen and skilled technicians.

When those individuals also have proven communication and leadership skills, they become very attractive for hire.”

Almost 2,000 high school and college students from across Florida will soon converge on Pensacola with that very mission in mind. They will compete in vocational competitions that will result in high-wage jobs for many and a positive economic impact for local businesses. Showcasing technical talents and leadership abilities, regional winners of Florida SkillsUSA qualifying rounds will face off at the 2014 Florida SkillsUSA State Competition April 28 and 29 at the Pensacola Bay Center.

For years, the annual conference and competition were held in southern and central Florida. PSC leadership began working with the Florida SkillsUSA to develop a set of criteria that encouraged event movement year after year. It wasn’t right, according to Meadows, to deprive certain areas of the state from enjoying this annual event.

“We worked for three years to bring it to Pensacola,” said Meadows, “Now, the conference will move every couple of years. Every community with the ability to host this event should be able to take part in this.”

Estimated to have a more than $3.5 million impact on our local economy this year, the three-day event is hosted by Pensacola State College and features a who’s who of community support, including Sandy Sansing, Gulf Power, the Greater Pensacola Chamber, Ascend Materials and more.

Seville Quarter is even getting in on the action, hosting an entertainment event with live music, food and soft drinks for visiting students and their families.

“The community support has been incredible,” said Ponson.

“There was a little bit of initial worry in bringing the state conference to Pensacola, far away from places like Miami, but attendance numbers have not gone down. In fact, Miami schools have rented entire hotels here.”

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Parents need to know that you don’t necessarily need a four-year college degree to be successful. Young adults can get a certificate in a particular trade, find a job and be very successful.

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About 850 hotel rooms are already booked in expectation of the big event. Accompanying families and business vendors from places as far away as New York will be checking out Pensacola for the first time, and Ponson said that many have decided to stay.

area business leaders will be here for the conference, but they will see all that Pensacola has to offer and likely come back to visit, resulting in greater economic opportunities for our area,” said Meadows.

Winners of the state competition who reside in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties will receive scholarships to PSC, and other winners will receive medals and prizes valued at hundreds of dollars from vendors. Winners will also move up to the national competition later in the year.

Back by popular demand, SkillsUSA will also cohost an Electrathon Race competition at Five Flags Speedway on Saturday, April 26. Sanctioned by Electrathon America and sponsored by the Gulf Power Engineering Society, high school and college competitors from Florida will race electric vehicles through an endurance course to determine how far they can travel on electric batteries.

“Several students who have never heard of Pensacola have come to the competitions in years past and decided to go to PSC or the University of West Florida for their college degrees,” said Ponson.

“Many Florida SkillsUSA board members and out-of-the-

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“Our goal is to make people aware of technical careers,” said Ponson. “When industry leaders look to move or expand to Pensacola, they want to make sure we have a skilled talent pool from which to hire. This event helps guarantee and showcase that.”

“SkillsUSA helps make these young people better citizens,” said Meadows. “They understand that their responsibility extends beyond themselves and their own career, and includes network maintenance and holistic individual development beyond just job development.”

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>INDUSTRY

Building a Career in Construction

Photo by Guy Stevens II

By Josh Newby

As part of an ongoing series of stories exploring prominent industries in Pensacola, Northwest Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Business Climate spoke with various scholars and experts in the construction field to understand the sectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s regional impact, educational expectations and career projections.

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From the very first huts and shelters made from natural materials by hand to the towering skyscrapers made possible by the industrial revolution, the products of construction surround us all. You are likely reading this in a building, surrounded by other buildings, with a network of electrical and plumbing infrastructure seamlessly connecting you to the resources you need most.

There is a widely held misconception today that “construction” simply involves laying asphalt, adhering bricks to mortar, or digging and leveling land. In reality, construction involves a huge network of multitasking, design and implementation. The construction of everything from buildings to boats includes planning stages that involve engineers and architects, and execution stages which include contractors, project managers and construction engineers, all of whom must be aware of new technology, climate concerns, regulations, waste disposal, materials logistics and more.

It is no wonder, then, that the industry responsible for literally building our country from the ground up employs almost 500,000 people nationwide and pays an average salary of $63,000. The United States leads the world in construction, outputting about $600 billion worth of economic stimulation every year. Locally, the construction industry accounts for about 7 percent of employment.

Gone are the days of prevalent construction apprenticeships and handyman builders. Though those aspects of the building industry still exist, technology, environmental concerns, safety and regulation have mandated that construction professionals retain vast knowledge about everything from engineering and management to business and finance.

“The industry is really multi-faceted,” said Aneurin Grant, an assistant professor of building construction at the University of West Florida (UWF). “Today, these professionals have to know the ever-changing technology they’ll be working with, the codes they have to adhere to, the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) credits they’re going for, all while managing people and contributing to the design process.”

The actual construction phase of construction used to be separate from the design stage. Engineers and architects would design a building, hand the plans off to whoever won the bid to actually bring the product to life, and contractors would take over from there. Now, according to building construction instructor Glenda Mayo, everyone is more involved in every step of the process.

“Contractors and construction managers contribute a lot to the early stages of development,” said Mayo.

“It’s beneficial to the project when you involve all parties from the beginning,” said Grant. “The contractor can bring unique knowledge to the table and tell the engineers if there is a problem he or she foresees with cost, safety, dimensions, scales, etc. It can and should be done that way.”

One of the reasons it can be done that way is new technology that has come online in the last decade or two.

Utilizing building information modeling (BIM) has changed the industry. BIM is a program that generates and manages digital, three-dimensional representations of future projects.

“BIM is actually mandated in federal construction,” said Mayo. “Designers and contractors can conduct a 3-D walkthrough and catch things they might not have otherwise.

It has changed the industry, the business language, processes, expectations, everything. BIM has made the entire endeavor more collaborative.”

Another recent trend in construction is green building, the process by which structures are assembled using

environmentally responsible and resource-efficient practices.

The emergence of LEED certifications and environmental consciousness has led to many innovations in the construction field, including better monitoring of water and energy usage, insulation, sustainable materials, natural light and more.

Electronic automation is paving the way for long distance adjustments that can be made after the site is complete. For example, many fixtures have monitoring devices attached to them so that they can be shut off, turned on and otherwise tweaked via the Internet. If there is a gas leak, gas service can be shut off with the flip of a switch on an iPad. These monitoring devices can also track things ranging from water and energy to carbon footprints and waste. All this allows for endless customization to find the perfect balance of functionality and efficiency.

But how do you enter this exciting field? As mentioned earlier, apprenticeships do not offer the same type of longrange opportunities they once did. Mayo and Grant recommend a bachelor’s degree in building construction or a related field. This local industry with regional impact has high job demand, especially if students pursue and attain a general contractor’s license, which a four-year degree can contribute to.

industry is really multi-faceted. “ The Today, these professionals have to know the ever-changing technology they’ll be working with, the codes they have to adhere to, the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) credits they’re going for, all while managing people and contributing to the design process.

”

Sixty-two percent of building construction students who graduate stay in Florida, and 7 percent are owners of their own companies. Other businesses attract this expertise, too, with 5 percent of graduates dabbling in real estate and 4 percent in facilities management. All in all, 71 percent of graduates stay in the direct construction field and go on to work at places like J.W. Dunnwright Construction, Greenhut Construction, and even places like Gulf Power and International Paper. Students can also work for regulatory agencies and enforce municipal codes or consult for companies looking to expand or add a location. There are at least seven dedicated construction businesses in the immediate area, with countless more companies that deal in one of the trade’s many related fields.

“UWF’s program directly feeds the local construction industry,” said Grant.

“The demand for our students is actually so high that we don’t have enough enrollees to meet demand,” said Mayo.

“Employers are ready and willing to hire now that the market has improved.”

Beyond a list of certifications that students can get to set them apart, many graduates pursue a master’s of business administration and even doctorate degrees.

“The sky is really the limit for those who are engaged in this field,” said Grant.

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>PHILANTHROPY

Impact 100 Makes History

By Josh Newby

The Pensacola Bay Area Impact 100, the local chapter of the national women’s philanthropy group, recently made history by concluding its 2014 membership drive with 1,025 members, making it the largest chapter in the world. The organization will continue its trend of giving back to the community by bestowing ten grants of $102,500 each on non-profit organizations in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties that benefit arts and culture; education; environment, recreation and preservation; family; and health and wellness.

This will mark the 11th year that Impact 100 has awarded grants to nonprofits in the community. Since beginning in 2004, Pensacola’s Impact 100 has awarded 47 grants to 39 different agencies for a grand total of $5.15 million, increasing from 233 members and $116,500 grants to just two non-profits.

“We are thrilled to have such a tremendous response from our community and we can’t wait to see what innovative projects the non-profit agencies submit this year,” said Impact 100 President Holly Jurnovoy. “Thanks to 14

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every one of our members, the Pensacola Bay Area shines once again as the largest Impact 100 organization in the world.”

Last year’s winners include the Santa Rosa Historical Society, Independence for the Blind of West Florida, the Humane Society of Pensacola, the Pensacola Museum of Art, Council on Aging of West Florida, the Pensacola Habitat for Humanity, FavorHouse and the Gulf Coast Kid’s House.

Even non-profit leaders who enter grant proposals that are not funded can submit wish lists of items or projects they hope to see funded, and oftentimes those needs are met from private individuals in the community. These associations sometimes receive unexpected benefits from regional citizens and companies simply because of the increased awareness that Impact 100 provides.

Impact 100 memberships are open to all women age 18 and older who either live in Pensacola or wish to help the area by donating $1,000, which grants a oneyear membership. The deadline each year is March 1. This fee gives member access to fun socials and thoughtful committee

meetings throughout the year, as well as the famous annual meeting each year.

Members can be as involved or uninvolved as they like. For many, the $1,000 donation suffices; for those who want to, there are opportunities for community outreach and participating on various committees.

To make a smaller (or larger) one-time donation, Impact 100 also allows women to “become a friend” of the organization by contributing to administrative costs.

Non-profit organizations interested in applying for an Impact 100 grant are invited to attend this year’s Nonprofit Education Workshop, “Million Dollar Impact – Got Grants?” at First Baptist Church on 500 Palafox St. on April 22. All non-profit organizations in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are invited to learn about the grant process, get tips on writing a more successful grant, be inspired to dream big and create a winning project.

Letters of intent to apply for a grant are due April 30. Grant applications must be submitted by June 27.

Greater Pensacola Chamber Faces Big Decisions

By Josh Newby

Jerry Maygarden, Greater Pensacola Chamber President

Big changes may be coming soon not only to the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, but also to the future of business and economic development in the region. Less than one year after complying with Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sunshine Law, which states that organizations which receive taxpayer dollars must make records and meetings open to public observation, the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce is looking to shed its Economic Development department in order to privatize its business proceedings.

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In June of 2013, the Pensacola News Journal raised the question about whether the Chamber should be subject to the state’s law following a series of private meetings. The Chamber had scheduled a July 22 board meeting to consider compliance of the law, but a statement by State Attorney Bill Eddins essentially sealed the deal for the Chamber, and they subsequently agreed to comply. Because the Chamber received more than $800,000 annually from the City of Pensacola and Escambia County for economic development, all Chamber proceedings and business had to be conducted “in the sunshine.”

This decision prompted the Chamber to separate from its Tourism department, which received millions of dollars from the County in 2013, earlier this year. However, since the Chamber still received city and county money for economic development, all other Chamber departmental information was still public record.

The desire to privatize business and not volunteer delicate information has resulted in a proposition to also separate from the Chamber its Economic Development arm and become a self-funded organization focused on community building, improving education and public safety, promoting the arts, and supporting members.

“We would not abandon our economic development initiatives,” said Chamber President and CEO Jerry Maygarden.

“We’re going to continue doing those things, among others.

We would just do so with private money.”

Economic development is not an explicit task that many chambers of commerce do, according to Maygarden. About 35 percent of American chambers of commerce are responsible for economic development, many of which are not subject to public records law, but some of which are. Maygarden wants to return the Greater Pensacola Chamber to a private business that seeks to benefit its members, small businesses and the community—the way it once was.

The Chamber board gave unanimous approval in mid-March to pursue privatization, and Maygarden has his choice of three possible options to submit to the board for a full decision in July.

Option 1 The first and least appeasing option for Maygarden involves leaving everything exactly as is, with the Economic Development department under the Chamber’s control. This would mean that the department—and therefore the Chamber— would continue to receive public funding as it does now, and that the Chamber would have to make all inner workings, communications, financials and proceedings available to the public.

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Option 2 One of the two options that Maygarden hopes the board approves would transition the current Economic Development department to the Pensacola-Escambia Development Commission (PEDC), a quasi-governmental organization under the authority of the County Commission which was created by the Florida Legislature in 1964 to stimulate economic development and attract jobs to the area.

“That was the sole purpose of the PEDC, originally,” said Maygarden. “Over the years, though, it’s become more of a landlord for places like Ellyson Industrial Park and the downtown tech park. We believe that the PEDC has the capability to manage economic development for the area. They currently contract those duties out to our Economic Development department at the Chamber and use our staff.

This option would simply unite the two more cohesively. The simplicity of this option is attractive.”

Under this structure, Maygarden hopes that the PEDC would receive the public economic development funds that the Chamber currently receives and would therefore be subject to the Sunshine Law. The Chamber, however, would be free from the public funds and could fully privatize.

Maygarden said, however, that the Chamber Foundation would still help contribute to economic development by giving funds currently allotted for that purpose to the PEDC. The foundation is a non-profit organization and is privately funded.

“The PEDC could function with staff and plan implementation with just public dollars, at least short term,” said Maygarden.

“They would eventually need more money, though, and the Chamber Foundation would help supplement that. I definitely understand transparency of initiatives that involve public money. If a taxpayer is helping fund it, they should know about it. This would help accomplish that.”

There is a downside to this plan, however. Since the PEDC is a quasi-governmental organization, elected officials would ultimately be in charge. Some Chamber membership has expressed hesitance to this concept.

“When you have elected officials running these type of things, they have issues to worry about, such as reelection and their constituencies,” said Maygarden. “Many people believe that economic development should be governed by private business professionals, and I certainly understand that point of view.”

That desire for professional governance is where the third option comes in.

Pensacola Port Option 3 The third option, also one that Maygarden likes, is to create an entirely new organizational entity, one that would receive public funds, be subject to the Sunshine Law, and remove economic development from the Chamber.

This option is most similar to what the Chamber did to its Tourism department, Visit Pensacola. That organization is currently a 501(c)(6) non-profit which receives public funds and has the same mission as it did when it was with the Chamber.

In this option, a board of business professionals who do not have political issues to worry about, such as reelection, would supervise the Economic Development staff.

“We are dedicated to uniting, as well as working with, the public and private sectors in order to build the best community that we can,” said Maygarden in a press release. “It is in our region’s best interest to continually find ways to advance our economic base and to attract a variety of investments that will help strengthen the message that the Chamber is committed to economic prosperity in Greater Pensacola.”

Maygarden has been busy at local Rotary meetings and Chamber Gopher Clubs spreading the word of this possible development and hearing from the membership. He said that if the department does separate from the Chamber, the organization will return to its roots of member benefits.

“There used to be a lot more committees than there are now,” said Maygarden. “We would have Chamber committees

that dealt with K-12 education, the port, the airport, city and state government, and so on. I’d like to return to that. I plan to take us back there. Not focusing on those areas has cost us a lot of membership.”

In the year 2000, the Chamber boasted 2,000 members.

Today, there are 970.

“That’s a reflection of the role we’ve adopted,” said Maygarden. “Chambers were never meant to be government agencies.”

Maygarden admitted to the need for privacy and discretion when dealing with Chamber business. He seeks to ensure that the Chamber has all the privacy rights that a privately held business would have. Eighty percent of the Chamber’s membership is made up of small businesses, and Maygarden said he wants to return the focus to them.

“When people say, ‘You’re only doing this so you can keep things to yourself and conduct business the way you want to,’ they are somewhat correct,” said Maygarden. “A certain amount of discretion is fundamental to business and to America. A lot of people are hesitant to work with us or negotiate deals if they know the newspaper might get a hold of that information prematurely.”

Maygarden said that he is willing to hear any and all opinions related to the potential split.

“I’m very susceptible to input,” said Maygarden. “I’ll talk to anybody. We are doing our best to gather as much information as possible before the decision on July 21.”

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The REX Theatre: A North Palafox Icon Gets Reborn

By Larsen Lien

The renovated exterior of The REX will closely resemble its current facade.

You pass by it daily and recognize the name, but oddly enough, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never been inside. The REX Theatre in downtown Pensacola has unfortunately been nonoperational for decades. It is a significant piece of downtown culture and has sat empty for far too long. One lucky organization plans to rectify that situation as soon as possible.

Unbeknownst to many, The REX was first and foremost the home of a furniture store in 1910. Its cinematic debut didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t occur until the 1930s when it opened as a second-run movie theater. By the late 1970s, though, The REX closed its doors.

Second-run movie theaters were declining in popularity as multiple-screen theaters began emerging. By the mid-1980s, The REX saw business again, opening as The REX Cinema and Draft House. When it was under this operation, the setup inside was different than the previous theater. There were chairs and tables for people to sit at while enjoying a beverage and a show of some sort. Much like its predecessors, though, the revamped REX closed its doors after just a few short years.

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The REX has had its misfortunes with lasting businesses, but that does not deter its current owners. In late 2012, Harvest Church purchased The REX Theatre with ambitious plans to renovate and revive it. Josh Stewart, project manager for the renovations and a member of Harvest Church, said The REX has been on their radar for years, so when the opportunity finally arose to purchase the space, they decided to “go all in.”

Not only is the church hoping to overcome the pattern of failed businesses within The REX, but they are also having to overcome a handful of community skepticism.

“You have a lot of nay-sayers who will say, ‘Oh Harvest Church bought The REX. They’re going to turn it into a church,’” Stewart said. “And the truth is, yes we are a church in that we’re going to use it as a church, but we’re not turning The REX Theatre into a church.”

Stewart stressed the importance of people understanding the scope of the project. Their plan is to operate as a venue for all types of performance mediums, as well as occasionally to hold church services.

“We’re not hiding the fact that we

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(Above) The current view of the theater from the entrance.

(Below) The third floor will be converted into multiple rooms, unlike the open, spacious area it is now.

A look at the current interior of The REX from the front stage.

own it,” he said. “We just want it to be a theater that we use for our church services and for our weekend services, that’s also used for live events like concerts, small-scale live theater, comedians, and things like that.”

Though they plan to host a variety of shows and performances, they are also working to establish a facility policy, which will address situations such as movie subject matter.

“We’re not going to be showing the latest horror movie because that just doesn’t fit who we are as an organization, and we have to stay true to that because at the end of the day, we are not a business,” Stewart said. “We’re a church, and so we have to function within that.”

The REX’s reopening is a highly anticipated event due to its projected ability to boost the culture and activity on Palafox north of Garden Street. While the block still embraces fun and culture, it does not have the same overflow of life and constant bustle as Palafox south of Garden. The block’s present businesses succeed in drawing crowds, but hopefully The REX can help it flourish even more.

“This part of Palafox just hasn’t experienced the renaissance that south of Garden has,” Stewart said. “We could definitely use more of an injection of activity in this area. We’re looking forward to being a part of the reawakening of downtown in this particular area.”

The strategy to help make that happen is to have the theater stay rooted in the people and culture of Pensacola. Not

only does it plan to participate in Gallery Nights by having free concerts, but it will also try to reach out to a different crowd.

Stewart said they would like to connect with those in nursing homes and assisted living facilities by hosting a free movie day with complimentary popcorn and drinks.

On the other side of the cultural aspect of The REX’s renovations is the economic factor, affecting both the community and the theater itself.

“From a jobs perspective, construction alone, we’re estimating having a minimum of 150 jobs during that time,” Stewart said.

“I think it’s going to be good for Palafox, Downtown, [and] for this part of Pensacola to restore this building.”

Currently, the theater has garnered a price tag of $500,000, coming mainly from Harvest Church. The total cost is estimated at $2.5 million – an investment the church is not making without taking precaution for future consequences.

“Part of the determining factor of the cost is when we look at all the numbers, which is what we’re doing now, is, ‘What’s a comfortable debt load for this organization to have?’”

Stewart said. “We don’t want to get in here and have a ridiculous amount of debt.”

The renovation funds are coming from multiple avenues, such as Harvest Church member donations, loans and selling The Plaza Theatre – a building the church had owned for years but never made progress with.

The designs for the new theater are in place and ready to be brought to life. For those who have had the pleasure of seeing

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The projected plans for The REX will include removable seating on the lower level and 180 luxurious theater seats rising behind.

the inside of The REX, the new renovations will have a different feel than before. The main floor of the theater will be equipped with removable seating, for versatility’s sake. Stewart said this decision was made so that the space could be used for any number of events.

“Let’s say you have a concert and you just want to have standing room, or you have an event with tables and chairs and want to be able to cater or something. It’s going to have that ability,” he said.

In the present REX, there are multiple levels that require two to four steps up or down when navigating through the first floor. Stewart said they are making small but important changes to that aspect of the layout so as to accommodate everyone, which will also include an elevator.

On the second floor of the theater, there are plans to incorporate a small café. The exact number of tables and chairs is still to be determined, but Stewart said they will do their best to fit as many as possible. Making The REX and its amenities accessible to everyone is a main goal of theirs, even down to the food and drink provided. A few voiced concerns on a church moving in for fear that it might “harp on the alcohol [they] serve,” but Stewart said that is far from the truth.

“We don’t have any kind of specific

An overview look of the renovated seats and screen.

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church policy on alcohol, except what we call ‘matter of conscience,’ and that just means that it’s different from one person to another,” he said. “[Serving alcohol] is just not an issue to us. It’s not something that we harp on or really care about.”

The third and final floor of the theater will be converted into a kids’ wing, which will mostly be used during the church’s services. Presently, the back area is one large, open room, but they plan to insert walls in order to better use the space. In the foyer of the third floor, Stewart said there will be a check-in table of sorts, which will then lead into the separate rooms.

All three floors will work together to embrace the community and revive The REX to meet its cultural potential.

While it has yet to be set in stone, Stewart said the plan is to be able to rent the first floor of the theater out to community members for special events or parties.

Members of the Pensacola community have been waiting decades to see the historic theater return to its former glory. Fortunately, that wait will be over soon. Stewart said the contractors estimate that the renovations will only take six months from the official start date, which is slated to be in April.

>AROUND THE REGION UWF expands partnership with Gulf Coast State College The University of West Florida and Gulf Coast State College are proud to announce the expansion of the current GCSC2UWF Program with a new articulation agreement. Through this partnership, students have the opportunity to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality, Recreation and Resort Management from UWF at Gulf Coast State College. This collaborative effort of both colleges provides students with a solid foundation in the technical knowledge and skills necessary for a career in the hospitality industry.

Hayward wins $2.7 million FDOT grant for regional stormwater facility at Pensacola International Airport Continuing his commitment to promote a healthy environment, Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward announced March 21 that he has secured from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) a $2.7 million grant for construction of a new regional stormwater management facility at Pensacola International Airport.

The pond will help prevent untreated

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business news bits you should know stormwater runoff from entering local waterways, improving water quality. The regional facility, which will be constructed by converting an existing 38acre borrow pit on airport property, will also eliminate smaller stormwater ponds located throughout the airport, freeing up more airport property for future development. The new facility will serve a drainage basin spanning 2,458 acres across the jurisdictions of the City of Pensacola, Escambia County and the Florida Department of Transportation. A secondary benefit of the project will be to meet the state stormwater treatment requirements for the new Pensacola Bay Bridge replacement in the very near future. The new regional stormwater facility has been permitted, and will be constructed, in such a manner to properly address the required compensatory stormwater treatment volume generated by the new bridge and thereby providing a significant environmental benefit to the community.

UWF announces gift commitment from Pen Air Federal Credit Union The University of West Florida announced today a $100,000 gift commitment from Pen Air Federal Credit Union in support of UWF College of Business students.

The gift will establish the Pen Air Federal Credit Union Betty M. Petree Endowment for scholarships and program support for College of Business students. Additionally, the Pen Air Federal Credit Union Financial Literacy Boot Camp for UWF students will be developed. The Pen Air Federal Credit Union Betty M. Petree Endowment will establish lasting support of the College of Business through scholarships provided to students who qualify through University enrollment requirements. The endowment will boost financial literacy for UWF graduates entering the labor force while contributing to their preparation for successful careers and lives. The endowment is named in honor of Betty M. Petree, who served as the general manager of Pen Air Federal Credit Union for 36 years. Currently, Petree serves on the Pen Air Federal Credit Union board of directors. The Pen Air Federal Credit Union Financial Literacy Boot Camp will be offered once a semester, to junior and senior students, and cover topics such as personal financial planning, planning for retirement, the advantages of tax-deferred savings and 401-k plans. The course will also cover best options for health care benefits and

savings plan, review of insurance, health and annuities and other significant financial topics. The boot camp will also host financial professionals, as guest lecturers, who will present topics to prepare students with the essential financial literacy they require prior to accepting their first professional position after graduation.

Gulf Islands National Seashore creates $155 million in economic benefit in Florida A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 3,882,284 visitors to the Florida sites of Gulf Islands National Seashore in 2012 spent $155.64 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 2,087 jobs in the local area. The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by U.S. Geological Survey economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Christopher Huber, and Lynne Koontz for the National Park Service. The report shows $14.7 billion of direct spending by 283 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 243,000 jobs nationally, with 201,000 jobs found in these gateway communities, and had a cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy of $26.75 billion.

Florida beaches recognized nationwide TripAdvisor, the travel website that rates and reviews destinations around the world, recently released its list of the top 25 beaches in the United States.

Pensacola Beach ranked No. 19 with comments such as, “Gorgeous and clean!” and, “Perfect!” Panama City ranked No. 20 with comments like, “Great anytime.” Navarre Beach ranked No. 25 and was called “best undiscovered beach in the Florida panhandle” on the website.

Pensacola Bay Center ranked a top leader in social media SMG-managed Pensacola Bay Center was ranked in the February issue of industry trade publication Venues Today as a top leader in social media. The arena finished 17th in Venues Today ’s “Social Media Power 100” for venues with similar capacities. Ranked 20th in last quarter’s list, Pensacola Bay Center vaulted three spots up the chart. The quarterly feature measures a facility’s influence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Foursquare. Pensacola Bay Center

currently has over 12,000 Facebook followers, and over 2,300 Twitter followers. The facility’s influence on other social media platforms helped contribute to the rise in ranking. One of the venue’s most successful promotions was its first annual “12 Days of Entertainment” sweepstakes through their Facebook page. This promotional giveaway brought over 1,300 new Facebook likes and nearly 2,000 entries.

Hayward signs contract with OHM for airport concessions Flanked by City Council President Jewel Cannada-Wynn and Council members Larry B. Johnson, Andy Terhaar, and Brian Spencer, Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward on March 21 signed a contract with OHM Concessions Group to provide food and beverage concessions at Pensacola International Airport. According to Airport officials, there will be no interruption in concessions service during the transition. In addition, OHM has ensured that at least 60 percent of its goods and services purchases will be made with local vendors, and the company is a certified Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE).

Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa named among “30 Best Meeting Site Boardrooms” by ConventionSouth For the second consecutive year, Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa on northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast has been named among the 30 Best Meeting Site Boardrooms by ConventionSouth magazine. Including notable hotels and meeting facilities from around the southeastern United States, the list of top 30 boardrooms was created by editors based on a variety of factors, including comfortable seating, interesting decor, high-tech capabilities and more.

UWF Faculty Catalyst Initiative awards $30,000 for faculty research and creative activities The University of West Florida’s newly established Faculty Catalyst Initiative recently awarded $30,000 to highly productive faculty in the area of research and creative activities. The UWF Faculty Catalyst Initiative is a Pace Academic Development Award funded project that supports scholarly and creative projects and activities of successful UWF faculty. Of the 13 applications received for the program, seven faculty were awarded.

>PEOPLE ON THE

MOVE

Baptist Medical Group opens new primary care office in Perdido; welcomes Rebecca J. Hall, DNP, FNP-BC Baptist Medical Group, the growing physician network of Baptist Health Care in Pensacola, Fla., is pleased to announce the opening of a new primary care practice location in Perdido, Fla. The office, located at 12601 Sorrento Road, Suite B., will be the home of the newly established Baptist Medical Group Primary Care – Perdido practice. Along with the opening of the new office, Baptist Medical Group welcomes advanced practitioner Rebecca J. Hall, DNP, FNP-BC, an experienced provider who will offer an array of primary care services for the entire family. Hall comes to Baptist Medical Group most recently from the Cleveland Clinic located in Cleveland, Ohio, where she served as a nurse practitioner in a family practice office.

Pensacola Country Club welcomes new chef Shayne Taylor is recognized as a Certified Executive Chef (CEC) by the American Culinary Federation (ACF), a Food Management Professional (FMP) by the National Restaurant Association, and is a point person for mentoring and evaluating chefs for the ACF, where he holds the designation of an Accredited Certification Evaluator (ACE). He recently accepted a position at the Pensacola Country Club.

Lakeview Center appoints president for FamiliesFirst Network Shawn Salamida joins Lakeview Center today as the president of FamiliesFirst Network of Lakeview (FFN) and as the Lakeview Center, Inc. vice president for Child Protective Services. FFN is the agency responsible for foster care, adoption and related services for abused and neglected children living in Northwest Florida. Salamida previously was the president and chief executive officer of a similar agency, Partnership for Strong Families, which provides child protective services for the 13-county North Central Florida area. Salamida has worked in children’s services for more than 20 years, holding leadership positions for 17 of them. He also serves on the board of directors for the Florida Coalition for Children and is a recipient of its Distinguished Service Award.

PSC department head receives Nevis Herrington HR Excellence Award Pensacola State College Director of Human Resources Tammy Henderson recently received the 2014 Nevis Herrington HR Excellence Award presented by the Florida Colleges’ HR Council. This award is presented annually to spotlight outstanding service in honor of Nevis Herrington, a founding member of the statewide HR Council. Henderson was recognized for her contributions to the system and demonstrated excellence as an HR Council member, as well as her leadership at the local and state levels.

Two doctors join Center for Sight, which has offices in Pace, Pensacola and Gulf Breeze Two new doctors have joined the Center for Sight, which provides both general optometry and specialized care at its locations in Pensacola, Pace and Gulf Breeze. Dr. Mary Beth Young specializes in patients undergoing vision-enhancing surgeries and also attends to general visual needs and contact lens. Young was an occupational therapist specializing in pediatric and adult neuro-rehabilitation before she obtained a doctorate in optometry from Nova Southeastern University, where she was salutatorian in her class. Dr. Robert Mason, fellowship trained in ophthalmology, sub-specializes in treatment of conditions affecting the retina and the vitreous.

He obtained his medical education at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. Mason has participated in several medical research projects in the past 15 years, including one to study age-related macular degeneration.

Blue Marlin Realty Group expands team with new realtor and sales manager Blue Marlin Realty Group continues to expand their team with new realtor Juan Anzures and new Sales Manager Katie Cartwright.

Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union welcomes new VP of Sales Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union recently welcomed Johan Boelig as the new Vice President of Sales. Boelig is responsible for the leadership and performance of the credit union’s sales functions and will focus on building member relationships, return to member, branch sustainability and financial success. He will oversee front line sales including the Raymond James division, regional sales assistant vice presidents, and contact and online lending center.

Pensacola State College selects Clenita “Penny” Jones as the new Lady Pirate Women’s Basketball coach Pensacola State College hired Clenita “Penny” Jones as the new Lady Pirate Women’s Basketball Coach Tuesday. Coach Jones succeeds Leah Drury who resigned recently after two years as head basketball coach for the Lady Pirates. Jones is currently an assistant coach at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.

To be included in Around the Region or People on the Move, email your news releases and business announcements to josh@ballingerpublishing.com.

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Ballinger Publishing Receives Small Business of the Month Award ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Ballinger Publishing was recognized with the Greater Pensacola Chamber's Small Business of the Month Award for April. This award is given to a Chamber member that employs 50 or fewer people and excels in the areas of community involvement, economic growth, customer service and professional relationships. It is our absolute honor to accept this award as we continue to promote the best of Northwest Florida through our many publications suited to a variety of age groups and lifestyles.

We are proud of our involvement in many local events and initiatives, big and small, philanthropic and community-oriented. Owners Malcolm and Glenys Ballinger serve the area on a variety of nonprofit boards and promote worthwhile causes at every opportunity. In addition, the staff at Ballinger Publishing can be frequently spotted enjoying, writing Malcolm Ballinger, Kelly Oden, Guy Stevens II, Josh about and supporting regional activities and Newby, Rita Laymon, Sharyon Miller and Emily Lullo. programs.

Not pictured: Glenys Ballinger, Simone Sands and We sincerely hope you enjoy and appreciate our efforts to propel Pensacola into the future and help it Becky Hildebrand. reach its potential. We are proud of our partnership with the Chamber, with the greater community and with you.

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